Dumaguete City councilor proposes FOI ordinance, flags ‘performative’ transparency

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A Dumaguete City councilor is pushing for a freedom of information (FOI) ordinance, saying that current transparency measures have become largely “performative” and difficult for ordinary residents to understand.

City Councilor Renz Macion said that while the local government complies with the Full Disclosure Policy by releasing documents and posting them in public spaces, these efforts often fail to meaningfully inform the public.

“We want the full disclosure policy, but transparency alone isn’t enough. We’re releasing documents and posting them on bulletin boards, yet the general public cannot comprehend our transparency reports. It becomes performative,” Macion said during Rappler’s anti-corruption town hall on Thursday, February 5.

The proposed FOI ordinance was approved on first reading in July 2025 but has yet to be calendared for second reading, he said.

The measure seeks to institutionalize access to information and present government data in a way that is easier for residents to understand. While a national FOI law has long stalled in Congress, several local governments — including Naga, Cebu, and Pasig — have passed their own FOI ordinances to advance transparency.

Silliman University College of Law professor Golda Benjamin urged both government officials and community groups to take part in refining the proposal.

“Organize to improve the ordinance in a way that’s acceptable to the community. And if you can’t really decide, perhaps collective people power can help push good agendas forward,” said Benjamin, who also serves as a senior specialist for corporate engagement at the Tara Climate Foundation.

Macion, a member of the city council’s minority bloc, emphasized that transparency initiatives require sustained public participation.

“When participation is strong within the city, there’s no space for corruption to thrive. When power is shared, accountability lives,” he said. “Government officials can’t do this alone. It has to be a collective effort. It may be a hard fight, but it’s one worth continuing.”

Red tape

Red tape also emerged as a key concern during the forum. One participant and Rappler app user, who identified herself as Teacher Mel, flagged the city engineering office’s processes as “high risk for red tape.”

“Most steps are not yet digitalized and require face-to-face encounters with agency personnel, raising the need for discretion and increasing the risk of ‘pampadulas‘ (grease money),” she said in Rappler’s Livable Cities channel.

Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation chairperson and engineer Greg Uymatiao Jr. echoed this concern, noting that decisions within the city engineering office can be “discretionary.”

“Sometimes it depends on who knows who,” he said, adding that he has sought guidance from professional groups such as the United Architects of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers to determine whether certain requirements were justified.

Macion also called for greater use of technology in city governance to reduce face-to-face transactions, which he said often create opportunities for negotiation and discretion.

One forum participant suggested developing a mobile app that would allow Dumaguete residents to easily access city documents and information, similar to the system used in Naga City.

Macion, however, said the proposal would require a feasibility assessment, citing the city’s limited resources and the need for public consultation before moving forward.

Negros Oriental Governor Chaco Sagarbarria, Dumaguete City Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria, Negros Oriental 1st District Representative Emmanuel Iway, and Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Janice Degamo were invited to the town hall but did not make it, citing conflicts in their schedule.

The Sagarbarrias were supposed to send their representatives to the town hall, but had to back out to prepare for Tropical Storm Basyang. – Rappler.com